This will be the 4th of PMEP’s symposiums exploring West Coast estuary restoration guidance and tools for restoration practitioners. This is the second day of a 2-day symposium held on May 21st, 2026. This virtual symposium brought together experts in the field of estuary restoration along the U.S. West Coast to explore effective estuary restoration topics. The 2026 symposia included: Guidance on integrating multiple species benefits into your projects, new research on estuary restoration (beavers and birds, oh my!), process-based design guidance for estuary restoration, restoring unique habitats (swamps, anyone?), and case studies which illustrate practical examples from Washington, Oregon, and California.
The symposiums are designed to support estuary restoration practitioners and will include opportunities to share techniques, ask questions, and build a community of practice.
Jumpstarting fluvial and tidal processes in estuaries
Correigh Greene, Skagit River System Cooperative
Restoring tidal swamps: practical restoration ecology
Laura Brophy, Estuary Technical Group, Institute of Applied Ecology
Beaver in tidal wetlands: implications for restoration
Greg Hood, Skagit River System Cooperative
Implementing process based restoration: lessons learned from the Wasson Creek restoration project
Alice Yaetes, South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Restoring self-sustaining off-channel habitat in the Smith River Estuary
Monica Scholey, Smith River Alliance and Dylan Caldwell, Stillwater Sciences
Love letters to salmon: stories of process-based restoration in the Stillaguamish Delta
Emily Howe, The Nature Conservancy
Healing the ecotone: community-driven restoration of Batiquitos Lagoon’s upland edge
David Bohmer, WildCoast
Designing considerations and case studies for shoreline restoration in Washington State
Jessica Cote, Blue Coast
